Regarding the Ambassador Kosh example, the chosen phrase is actually one of his most intelligible statements in the series. Two aliens are trying to get legal support to prevent a life-saving operation on one of their people, Kosh is alive because a life-saving operation was carried out on him against his wishes, hence "The avalanche has already started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote."

Seven Seals: Removed this:

• Supposedly a zen koan, this exchange from the Halo expanded universe novel Ghosts of Onyx:

  Halsey: LIFE IS THE PATH

  Endless Summer: CAN THE PATH BE SEEN?

  Halsey: OBSERVE THE PATH AND YOU ARE FAR FROM IT

  Endless Summer: WITHOUT OBSERVATION HOW CAN ONE KNOW THEY ARE ON THE PATH

  Halsey: THE PATH CANNOT BE SEEN, NOR CAN IT BE UNSEEN. PERCEPTION IS DELUSION; ABSTRACTION IS NONSENSICAL. YOUR PATH IS FREEDOM. NAME IT AND IT VANISHES

This is an actual Zen koan, or very close to it in any case. It's a bit infuriating that I can't find a version of it on the web. The original deals with enlightenment rather than "life", I think.

The Trope Namer has no listed source, though it vaguely resembles something Jesus said: "To the one who has, more will be given; to the one who lacks, even what he has will be taken away."

Some of these are neither Koans nor Ice Cream Koans, but maxims we're just unfamiliar with.

"An ass may do the work of an ox in a time of no horses"

—Make do with what you've got. A bad tool may be the best you have. We phrase this as "Any old port in a storm".

and ""When many expect a mighty stallion they will find hooves on an ant".

—You see what you expect to see. This one's about confirmation bias. If you expect to see a horse, you might mistake an ant for a horse.